A local education office has suspended an elementary school teacher for a month following a drug charge. North Chungcheong Provincial Office of Education said Tuesday that an elementary school teacher in the district has been suspended from duty for the use of gamma hydroxybutyric acid, a psychotropic drug, with a friend.  (Yonhap)The teacher was arrested by police, though her indictment was suspended considering the small amount of the drug. An official from the education office said, “While th

Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2017

A war veteran admitted that some of the dispatched South Korean troops killed non-military locals during the Vietnam War (1960-1975). Korea sent troops to Vietnam during its civil war in an effort to push the communists back. There have been voices, both domestic and international, calling for the Korean government to recognize and apologize for the massacres of Vietnamese civilians by its troops, during the war.  Yoon Mi-hyang, chairman of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military S

Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2017

The Korean government recently deported 17 foreign nationals, to ensure the safety of upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, slated for February. Local daily Seoul Shinmun reported Monday, 17 foreigners, including nationals from Southeast Asia and Central Asia, were deported from Korea, believed to pose a terror risk.  An aerial view of PyeongChang Olympic Village (PyeongChang Organizing Committee)According to the government official, cited by the report, the government cooperated with 50 foreign i

Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2017

Christmas has become an expensive holiday for young people in Korea. Many restaurants dish out set course “Christmas Meals” at double usual prices. Lodgings are offered at exorbitant prices, amid a surge in demand. Clubs and bars are much the same, tacking on extra charges for Christmas tables. Even for those willing to fork out the money, all these are hard to come by, as rooms and tables are quickly booked.Amid skyrocketing prices, some women especially in their 20s and 30s are seeking out alt

Culture Dec. 22, 2017

The labor union of mailmen in Korea on Thursday protested against deliveries on Saturdays. The union gathered in front of Gwanghwamun Post Office in Seoul on Thursday to call for abolishment of the weekend delivery service.  (Yonhap)Korea Post abolished the service in 2014, but it restarted the service the following year after negotiations with the labor union. The union argued that terms of the agreement have been broken, and released the results of a recent survey of 3,547 mailmen across the c

Social Affairs Dec. 22, 2017

들소가 사자를 들이받았다. 심지어 가만히 쉬던 사자를 공격했다. 지난 7일 동영상 공유사이트 유튜브에 게재된 영상으로, 남아프리카공화국 크루거 국립공원에서 발생한 사건을 담았다. (사진=유튜브 영상 캡쳐)영상에서는 들소가 가만히 있는 사자를 냅다 들어올려 집어던진다. 사자는 맥을 못추고 나가떨어졌다.촬영자 베타브르 샤퀸느(22)는 “굶주리고 마른 암사자가 변을 당한 것“이라고 설명했다. 사자는 본래 무리지어 사냥하는 포식자다. 녀석들이 늙고 병약해져 무리에서 퇴출되면 사냥이 사실상 불가능해 굶어 죽는다는 보고가 있다. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Dec. 22, 2017

A news report has highlighted that more foreign men were found to have catcalled local women in the streets. Hankyoreh, a South Korean daily newspaper, reported Thursday that an increasing number of foreign men are catcalling in expat-friendly neighborhoods, such as Itaewon, Seoul. Catcalls are widely regarded as sexual harassment, consisting of unwanted comments and whistles from strangers, despite little legal sanctions on offenders domestically.  (Yonhap)According to the report, many local wo

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2017

Supreme Court justice nominee Min Yoo-sook made her position clear on homosexuality. “I am not taking the view that favors homosexuality,” Min said during a parliamentary confirmation hearing Wednesday.  (Yonhap)Through a written response submitted to the National Assembly last Monday, she said, “Homosexuality, an individual’s sexual orientation, is not a matter to be resolved through banning or opposing.”She also made her stance on same-sex marriage, “The court ruled that same-sex marriage cann

Politics Dec. 21, 2017

Starbucks opened its biggest store in Korea in downtown Seoul, Wednesday, which is designed to do much more than simply serve coffee. Its former largest in the nation was the “Cheonho Rodeo branch” in Gangdong, Seoul.The 1,097 square-meter compound, named “The Jongno branch,” is located across the street from Bosingak, at Jongno Tower, Jongno-gu, one of the oldest districts in Seoul, dotted with traditional attractions. The store is four times larger than the average size of other branches in Ko

Food Dec. 20, 2017

A recent survey revealed that more than 70 percent of foreign workers in Korea are not discriminated at work for being expatriates. Statistics Korea announced Wednesday the results of its survey on 800,000 foreign workers in Korea. The respondents had worked in Korea for more than 91 consecutive days. They included those permitted to be naturalized as Korean citizens.  Foreign workers in Korea study the Korean alphabet hangeul, at a community center in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap

Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2017

An Armenian English tutor was arrested for stealing jewelry and expensive bags from a student’s home.South Gyeongsang Province’s Changwon Police Station said Wednesday that a 34-year-old Armenian woman was arrested for theft of valuables at her elementary student’s apartment.  (Yonhap)The suspect tutored the student in June three time a week when the parents were not at home. The teacher reportedly stole valuables worth 15 million won ($13,800), including a diamond ring, watch and four brand nam

Social Affairs Dec. 20, 2017

Apart from shopping for groceries and daily necessities, local customers also have the chance to buy heavy equipment at a local hypermarket warehouse store. Hyundai Construction Equipment announced Monday that four mini excavators are now on sale at Emart Traders’ Gunpo branch in Gyeonggi Province, through Monday, with prices ranging from 26.5 million won ($24,400) to 45 million won, based on size.  (Hyundai Construction Equipment)On the first day of the event, Friday, a customer purchased a 1.7

Industry Dec. 20, 2017

A Korean man who allegedly raped his Filipino ex-wife’s sister will be tried in court again Wednesday. The man, 39, has been charged with raping his former sister-in-law, 20, when his ex-wife was not at home. The victim was staying at the couple’s house on Jeju Island to attend their wedding last February, as she had been invited by the man.  (Yonhap)The victim, who came from the Philippines, revealed the incident to her sister’s close friend, after the couple went on their honeymoon. The victim

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2017

From the second quarter of 2018, drinkers who yell in public parks in Seoul could be subject to fines of up to 100,000 won ($92). Seoul City announced Tuesday that 22 public parks, run directly by the municipal government, will be designated as “alcohol-free areas” from January. This photo is irrelevant with the article (Yonhap)From January to March, during the “guidance term,” if an excessively drunken person is reported, civil servants will be dispatched to the scene. The areas will be intensi

Social Affairs Dec. 19, 2017

While a majority of Koreans are content with tap water here, less than half of the population actually drinks it, a survey showed Monday. The Tap Water Public Relations Association and Citizen’s Network for Tap Water released the results of a joint survey.  (Yonhap)According to the survey of 12,196 adults, 92.6 percent of respondents said they are content with tap water, but only 49.4 percent actually drink it on a regular basis.Those who use water purifiers or mineral water bottles said the rea

Social Affairs Dec. 18, 2017